Electric clock.



PATENTED APR. 17, 1906.

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Fig.\.

Witnesses Attorneys No. 817,892. PATENTED APR. 17, 1906. G. H. ANDREWS.

BLEGTRIU CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22, 1905.

Fig.5.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

F llm T6 7445 Witnesses Inventor Attorneys PATENTED APR. 17, 1906.

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Inventor Atcrneys I Eflzdrewar G. H. ANDREWS. ELECTRIC CLOCK. APPLIOATION FILED AUG ZZ. 1905.

nesses wii GUY HUNTINGTON ANDREWS, OF EASTLAND, CALIFORNIA.-

ELECTRIO CLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 1'7, 1906.

Application filed August 22, 1905. Serial No. 275,300.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUY HUNTINGTON AN- DREWS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Eastland, in the county of Marin and State of California, have invented a new and useful Electric Clock, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanism employed for controlling the circuits of electric clocks and similar devices, and has for its principal object to provide a means whereby a working circuit may be closed with the utmost accuracy at predetermined intervals of time, generally at the end of each minute.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of this class in which pro vision is made for the most accurate adjustment of the time of operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a controlling mechanism of simple construction having but few partsexposed to wear and which will require comparatively small battery-power.

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel features of construc tion and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompany ing drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of an electric-clock controller constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same looking from the right of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of thedevice, partly in section. Fig. 4 is a detail transverse section, drawn to an enlarged scale, on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of a pair of pawloperating arms under the control of the balance-wheel. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the centering-spring of the pawl-operating arms. Fig. 7 is a sectional perspective view showing the connections between the pivoted trackcarrier, the armature, the pawl, and its opcrating-arms. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the connectingbar between the track-carrier and the armature. Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of one of the regu: lating-arms. Fig. 10 is a similar view, partly in section, of the three fixed contacts for controlling the circuit of the actuating-magnet and the clock-circuit. Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view of the same. Fig. 12 is a detail view of a portion of one of the electromagnets, the parts being detached. Fig. 13 is an elevation, partly in the nature of a diagram, showing the pivoted track-carrier in the position to which it is moved by the spring. Fig. 14 is a similar view showing the position assumed by the track-carrier when moved by the armature. Figs. 15 and 16 are diagram views illustrating two positions of the pawl-operating arm. Fig. 17 is a general diagram of the wiring connections, showing also a clock-circuit.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The various working parts of the device are supported on a suitable frame, including in the present instance a base 10 and a vertically-disposed frame-plate 11, and for convenience the frame is provided with pendent legs 12 for supporting the former, said legs being preferably formed with threaded openings for the reception of adj usting-screws 12, by means of which the base may be maintained in a level position within a suitable case.

To the rear face of the vertical plate 11 is secured a bracket 15, and the bracket carries an arm 16, having at its upper end a horizontally extended portion 17, provided with pivot ears, between which is hung an armature-lever 18, carrying a suitable armature 19. The bracket also carries a cross-bar 20, formed of soft iron and connected by screws 21 (see Fig. 12) to the core-piece 22 of the electromagnets 23. The outer end of each corepiece is formed integral with an enlarged disk, constituting the core-piece and presenting an extensive area adjacent to the armature 19, so that the latter will be attracted without rendering it necessary to employ a large battery. This electromagnet is energized by the mechanism, hereinafter described, at regular predetermined intervals and serves as a means for operating said mechanism in one direction.

Arranged in front of the plate 1 1 is a standard 25, at the upper end of whichis a threaded opening for the reception of a screw 26, which forms a bearing for the end of a pivot-pin 27 projecting from one arm of a track-carrying IIO frame 28. The opposite arm of this frame is provided with a second pin 29, which finds a bearing in the frame-plate. These two pins form the center of movement of the trackcarrying frame, the latter swinging first in one direction and then in the opposite direction. The frame 28 is U-shaped, and the upper end of each of its arms is laterally extended to form a support for a track 31, preferably of hardened steel. This track receives the conical end of a spindle 32, on which is mounted a balance-wheel 33, the spindle rolling over the tracks alternately in opposite directionsthat is to say, when the tracks are inclined, as shown in Fig. 13, the spindle and balance-wheel will travel toward the left, and at the completion of this movement the position of the track will be reversed and will be inclined, as shown in Fig. 14, whereupon the spindle and balance-wheel will travel toward the right, this movement being kept up continuously and the full movement back and forth occupying any desired period of time, generally sixty seconds By adjusting the screw 26 the vertical arms comprising the track-carrying frame may be moved to ward or away from each other, so that the conical ends of the spindle 32 will engage the tracks at different points, thereby regulating the speed of the balance-wheel, and consequently the length of time it takes for the balance-wheel to travel over said tracks, the screw when once adjusted being firmly locked by a small nut 30.

Fitting within an opening in one of the arms of the U-shaped frame 28 is a tubular por tion 33 of a bar 34, this tubular portion extending also through a slot formed in the vertical frame 11, and at the rear end of the bar 34 is an opening 35 for the reception of a pin 36, that is rigidly secured at one end to the lower portion of the armature-lever 18. The outer end of the pin 36 is threaded for the reception of a nut 37, and extending between the armature and the bar 34 is a helical spring 38, while between the bar and the nut 37 is a second spring 39, these two springs forming a yieldable connection between the bar and the pin, so that there will be no jar in the transmission of the abrupt movement of the armature-lever to the track-carrying frame 28. The springs serve as cushioning means, and their stress may be adjusted by turning the nut 37. To this bar is also secured one end of a cord or chain 40, the opposite end of which is connected to one end of a tensionspring 41, and the opposite end of the tensionspring is connected to a cord 42, that is wound on a small spindle 43, which may be turned for the purpose of adjusting the stress of the spring and the resistance which it offers to the operation of the frame 28 by the arma x ture. The spring moves the frame 28 in one direction, or to the position shown in Fig. 13, while the armature when attracted by the sizsea electromagnets moves the track carrying frame in the opposite direction, or to the position shown in Fig. 14.

Extending through the tubular portion 33 of the bar 34 is a spindle 45, the front end of which is journaled in the front arm of the frame 28, while the rear end of said spindle engages a pawl 46. The pawl 46 is loosely mounted on the spindle 45, and seated in a recess or socket in the end of the spindle is a projecting arm 47 provided with a contactplate 48, which forms one terminal of a circuit hereinafter described. One end of a coil-spring 45 is secured to a pin or projection on the pivoted end of the pawl 46, the opposite end of said spring being coiled around the spindle 45, with the terminal portion bearing against the bar 34, said spring serving to yieldably support the pawl in engagement wish a ratchet-block 54.

Extending laterally from the free end of the pawl 46 is a pin or lug 46, which extends in the path of movement of the contact-arm 47, so that when the latter descends it will engage said pin and release the pawl from engagement with the shoulder in the ratchetblock 54. To that portion of the spindle 45 within the frame 28 are secured the lower ends of two arms 49, the upper ends of which are bifurcated to form fingers 50 and 51, that project above the tracks 31 in a position to be engaged by the balance-wheel-carrying spindle 32 as the latter nears the limit of its movement in both directions. As the balancewheel-carrying spindle moves in one directionfor instance, toward the left of Fig. 1-it will strike the two fingers 50 of the arms 49, and this movement will be trans mitted to the spindle 45, which lowers the contact-arm 47, and thereby trips the pawl and moves the latter out of contact with a shoulder formed in a block 54, that is secured to a regulating-arm 55. The regulating-arms 55 and 56 are pivoted at their upper ends on a pin 57, carried by the rear portion of the frame-plate 11, and the lower ends of said arms are provided with depending pins 58, that are connected by a tensionspring 59. Those two arms are provided with notches 60, arranged opposite each other and serving to permit the necessary vibratory movement of the bar 34 as it transmits movement to the track-carrying frame 28. The distance between the walls of these notches serves to limit the extent of movement of the frame, and by varying this distance the period of time necessary or a complete cycle of movements may also be varied. To accomplish this adjustment, a screw 60 1s employed, the screw extending through a threaded opening in a bracket 61, dependlng from the base and being provided with a conical end portion 62, that enters between the two regulating-arms. The outer end of the screw is provided with an operating-handle 63, which constitutes also a pointer, and said handle may be moved over a graduated dial 64 at the front of the casing, and by altering the distance between the two regulatingarms the time period may be varied.

The lower cross-bar of the frame 28 carries a substantially U-shaped spring 66, the two arms of which are arranged to engage the opposite sides of one of the arms 49 in order to maintain the latter in a central position with respect to the track-carrying frame and permitting slight independent movement of the arms 49 necessary to rock the spindle in one direction or the other when the fingers and 51 are engaged by the spindle of the balance-wheel.

Secured to the rear portion of the frameplate 11 is-a bracket 70, carrying three contact plates 71, 72, and 73, insulated from each other and terminating in alining contacts that are arranged to be engaged by the contact-plate 48 for the purpose of completing the circuit of the electromagnet 23, and, if necessary, for closing the circuit of the clock or clocks.

-When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, the track-carrying frame has been moved by the electromagnet and the pawl 46 is locked, the position of the parts at this time being best shown in Figs. 13 and 16. The balance-wheel and its spindle are traveling toward the left of Fig. 1, descending the inclined tracks until the ends of the spindle engage the fingers 50 of the arms 28. This movement is transmitted to the spindle 45, rocking the latter and through the medium of the arm 47 turning the pawl 46 from engagement with the shoulder of block 54, whereupon spring 41 acts to draw the trackcarrying frame to the opposite position, or to the position shown in Fig. 13. When the spindle 45 is rocked, the contact 48 is lowered to a position below the several contacts 71, 72, and 73 and in its downward movement engages the pin or lug 46 on the pawl 46 and moves the latter to released position. The parts remain in this position until the bal ance-wheel-carrying spindle in rolling in the opposite direction engages with fingers 51, whereupon the arms 49 are moved and spindle 45 is rocked, thus raising the contact 48 into engagement with the several contacts 71 72, and 73 and at the same time releasing the pawl, which latter is elevated into engagement with the ratchet-block by the coilspring. When the contacts engage, a circuit may be traced from a battery 80, through wire 81, to the electromagnets 23, wire 84, wire 85, contact 72, contact 73, wire86, to battery, thus energizing the electromagnets. The armature 19 is attracted, and armature carrying lever 18 serves, through its'connec: tion with the trac -carrying frame, to change the position of the latter, the pawl clicking in wheel having position against the shoulder of block 54 and again locking the parts in position; At the same time the electromagnet-circuit is closed, and circuit through a clock 88 may also be closed, this circuit being traced from a battery 89, through Wire 90, to the block, wire 91, contact 71, contact 48, contact 72,wire 85, to

isms usually employed for advancing the hands or actuating the relays.

The mechanism may be accurately regulated by turning screw and thus adjusting the distance between the two walls of the notches 60, these walls forming stops for limiting movement of the bar 34.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- 1. In timing mechanism, a pair of tiltablymounted inclined tracks, a balance-wheel having a staff or spindle arranged to travel thereon, and means under the control of said staff or spindle for altering the position of the tracks.

2. In a timingdevice, a pair of tiltablymounted tracks, a balance-wheel having a staff or spindle mounted on said tracks, and means operable at the completion of each movement of the staff for changing the position of the tracks and thereby reversing the direction of movement of the balance-wheel.

3. In a timing device, a pair of tiltable tracks movable alternately to oppositely-inclined positions, operating means for the tracks, a balance-wheel having a staff or spindle arranged to travel on the tracks, and means actuated by said staff or spindle for controlling the movement of saidoperating means.

4. In combination, a track, means for moving the same alternately to an oppositely-inclined position, a balance-wheel supported by the track and movable thereover by gravity, first in one direction and then in the opposite direction, and means controlled by the balance-wheel for altering the inclination of said track.

5. In combination, a pair of pivotallymounted arms having tracks at their upper ends, means for movingsaid arms to adjust the tracks alternately to oppositely-inclined positions, a balance-wheel having a staff or spindle mounted on the tracks, an electro magnet connected to the arms and serving to move the tracks to one position, means acting in opposition to the electromagnets for moving the tracks to the opposite position, and a locking device and circuit-closer operable by the staff or spindle as the latter approaches the limit of its movement 011 said tracks. 6. The combination with a pair of pivotally-mounted track members, of a balancea staff or spindle mounted thereon, an electromagnet for moving said opposite inclined position, a pivoted arm having fingers disposed in thepath of the staff or spindle, a pawl connected to said arm and serving to prevent movement under the influ ence of the spring, and a circuit-closer also under the control of said arm and serving to close the circuit of the electromagnets.

7. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a pair of pivotally-mounted arms, tracks carried thereby, a balancewheel having a staff or spindle mounted on the tracks, a shaft carried by said arms, a pawl, and a circuit-closer carriedby the shaft, apair of arms secured to said shaft and having spaced fingers disposed in the path of move ment of the staff or spindle, and locking means with which the pawl engages, a spring tending to move the arms and tilt the track in one direction when the pawl is released, an electromagnet for moving said arms and tilting the track in the opposite direction, and a circuit having terminals with which the shaftcarried contact engages.

8. In apparatus of the class described, a pviotally-mounted U-shaped frame, the up er ends of which are provided with tracks, pivot-pins engaging the upper portion of the frame and serving as the center of movement therefor, a balance wheel having a staff or spindle mounted on the tracks, a shaft sup ported by the frame, a pair of arms carried by said shaft and having spaced fingers arranged to beengaged by said staff or spindle, a locking-pawl carried by the shaft, means with which the pawl engages to lock the frame in one position, an electromagnet for moving the frame in one direction, a spring for moving said frame in the opposite direction, and circuit-closing contacts, one of which is carried by the shaft and serving to energize the electromagnet once during each cycle of movement of the parts.

9. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a pivotally-mounted U- shaped frame having tracks, a'balance-wheel having a staff or spindle mounted on the tracks, a shaft extending through the lower ortion of the frame, arms carried by said shaft and having fingers disposed in the path of movement of the staff or spindle, a locking pawl carried by the shaft and movable to re lease position by the engagement of the staff with one set of fingers.

10. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a pivotally-mounted trackcarrying frame, of a pair of arms pivoted to said frame and movable both independently of and simultaneously with said frame, a balance-wheel having a staff or spindle mounted on the tracks and arranged to engage said arms at the limit of its movement in opposite directions, means for moving the frame, and mechanism connected to the arms for con- 1 ing frame, of a trolling the operation of the train-moving means.

11. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a pivotally-mounted frame having a pair of spaced tracks, a balancewheel having a staff or spindle mounted on said tracks, mechanism for tilting the frame alternately in opposite directions, a pair of arms pivotally connected to the frame and movable therewith, said arms having members disposed in the path of movement of the staff or spindle,and atilting-mechanism-controlling means connected to said arms.

12. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a pivotally-mounted frame having a pair of spaced tracks, of a balance-wheel having a staff or spindle .mounted on said tracks, a rock-shaft journaled in the frame, arms secured to said rock-shaft and having terminal members disposed in the path of movement of said staff or spindle, a centering-spring carried by the frame and having members engaging the opposite sides of one of said arms, a pawl, and a circuit-closer secured to the shaft, a locking means with which said pawl engages to hold the frame in one position, an electromagnet for moving the frame in one direction, the circuit of said magnet being under the control of said circuit-closer, and a spring serving to move the frame in the opposite direction when the electromagnet is denergized.

13. Ina device of the class specified, a tiltable frame having tracks, a balance-wheel having a staff or spindle mounted on said tracks, mechanism for tilting the frame alternately in opposite directions, stops for limiting the movement of said frame, and means for adjusting the positions of said stops.

14. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a tiltable track-carrying frame, of a balance-wheel having a-staff or spindle mounted on the tracks, mechanism for tilting said frame alternately in opposite directions, a pair of, pivoted arms forming stops for limiting the movement of said frame, and means foradjusting the distance between saidarms and thereby regulating the eriod of operation of the balance-wheel.

15. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a tiltable track-carrying frame, of mechanism for movingsaid frame alternately in opposite directions, a pair of pivotally-mountedrarms forming stops for imiting movement of the frame, a yieldable means connecting said arms, and an adjustable spacingrmember movable between the arms and serving by adjusting the distance between them to regulate the period of operation of the balance-wheel.

16. In mechanism of the classdescribed, the combination with a yieldable track-carrybalanceheel having a staff or spindle mounted on the tracks, mechanism or moving the frame alternately in op osite netically-actuated time-indicating device, of directions, a pair of pivotally-mounte arms a tiltable track-carrying frame, an electro forming stops for limiting the movement of magnet for operating the same in one directhe frame, a spring connecting said arms, a I tion, means for moving said frame in the opregulating-screw having a conical portion eX- posite direction, circuits including the timetending between the arms and serving to adindicating device and the electromagnet, said just the distance between them and thereby circuits being under the control of said frame, regulating the period of operation of the baland a balance-wheel having a staff or spindle ance-Wheel. mounted on the tracks.

17. In a device of the class specified, the 19. In mechanism of the class described, a combination with a tiltable track-carrying tiltable track-carrying member, a balanceframe, of an electromagnet, an armature-lewheel having a staff or spindle mounted on ver, a pin projecting from the armature-lever j the tracks, a circuit-closer operable at predea bar extending from the frame and having termined intervals controlled by the balancea perforated lug through whlch said pin eX- j wheel, a frame, an electromagnet for actuattends, cushioning-springs surrounding the pin and bearing against the opposite faces of said lug, means for adjusting the stress of the springs, a pair of pivotally-mounted levers having recesses, against the walls of which said bar impinges to stop the movement of g said frame in the opposite direction, an electrically-actuated time-indicating mechanism, circui s in which the electromagnet and time-indicating mechanism are connected, and a plurality of circuit-terminals disposed in the path of movement of said circuit-closer.

20. In mechanism of the class described, a tiltable frame having a pair of spaced tracks, a balance-wheel having a staff provided with tapered end portions that rest on said tracks, and means for varying the distance between the tracks.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

the frame, a block carried by one of said arms and having a locking-shoulder, a rocleshaft j ournaled in the frame, a pair of arms secured to the rock-shaft and having fingers in the path of movement of the staff or spindle, a pawl carried by the rock-shaft and arranged to engage against said shoulder, a spring connected to the bar and serving to move the frame in one direction when the pawl is released, the electromagnet serving to move the frame in the opposite direction, a circuitcloser carried by said pawl, and a magnet-en- GUY HUNTINGTON ANDREWS, ergizing circuit having terminals disposed in Witnesses: the path of movement of said circuit-closer. MARTIN J. KLEIN,

18 The combination with an electromag- GELARDIN. 

